Maine Military Firefighters turn out for retirement-security legislation

Maine Military Firefighters are joined in the Labor Committee’s hearing room by Representative Amy Roeder, seated at left, House chair of the Labor Committee and sponsor of the retirement-security legislation known as LD 1236.

MSEA-SEIU members who work as Maine Military Firefighters testified today in support of LD 1236, An Act to Address Employee Retention of State Employees Who are Firefighters at Bangor International Airport, sponsored by Representative Amy Roeder.

The Maine Military Firefighters told the Maine Legislature’s Labor Committee their current retirement plan is causing recruitment and retention problems. New hires leave to take firefighting jobs at other departments with retirement plans that let them retire after 20 or 25 years of service without any age criteria. Their work is dangerous and it takes a real toll on their health.

MSEA-SEIU Steward and Military Firefighter Captain Brandon Michaud noted that firefighters have a 14% greater risk of getting cancer compared to other Americans. He added that the problem of losing firefighters to other departments is real. “They’re leaving us to go somewhere else,” he said.

MSEA-SEIU Member and Assistant Military Fire Chief Jeremiah Jordan said that of the last 30 retirements from the Bangor Air National Guard Base Fire Department, nine were due to disabilities.

MSEA-SEIU Member and Assistant Military Fire Chief Patrick Foley said the work is difficult, strenuous and specialized – and it’s work that has led to cardiac issues, joint issues, and mental health issues among the Maine Military Firefighters.

Representative Sean Faircloth, Representative Steven Bishop and MSEA-SEIU Director of Politics and Legislation Beth White also testified in support of LD 1236.